COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo — This time the Americans won’t lack chemistry.
Highlighted by six familiar players who have won gold medals with USA Basketball teams in FIBA and/or FIBA Americas competitions, USA Basketball announced the 10-member roster for the 2014 USA Junior National Select Team that will take on a World Select Team in the 2014 Nike Hoop Summit on April 12 at the Moda Center in Portland, Ore.
The Nike Hoop Summit is the country’s premier annual basketball game for high-school-age boys, and it features America’s top seniors playing against a World Select Team comprised of elite, international players age 19 years old or younger.
The USA will be led at the 17th annual game by its most experienced roster yet as it looks to capture a win after losses in 2012 and 2013. Overall, the United States owns an 11-5 series advantage.
Headlined by Jahlil Okafor of Whitney Young (Chicago), a three-time gold medalist and MVP of the 2012 FIBA U17 World Championship, the 2014 USA Junior National Select Team roster also includes two-time gold medal winners Stanley Johnson of Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), Tyus Jones of Apple Valley (Minn.) and Justise Winslow of St. John’s (Houston); as well as Joel Berry II of Lake Highland Prep (Orlando, Fla.) and Theo Pinson of Wesleyan Christian (High Point, N.C.), who each own one international gold medal.
Rounding out the roster are Cliff Alexander of Curie (Chicago), who suited up for USA Basketball as a member of the 2013 USA 3×3 U18 World Championship Team; James Blackmon, Jr. of Marian (Fort Wayne, Ind.), who trained with USA Basketball as a member of the 2011-12 Developmental National Team; and Kelly Oubre of Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.), and Myles Turner of Trinity (Euless, Texas), who each took part in the 2013 USA Basketball Developmental National Team mini-camp this past October.
Leading the USA will be heralded high school mentor Mike Jones of DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.), who not only headed the 2013 USA Junior National Select Team and was an assistant coach for the 2012 USA Junior National Select Team, but who also was an assistant coach for the 2012 USA U17 World Championship Team, the 2011 USA U16 National Team and the East Team in the 2004 Youth Development Festival.
“We all are excited about this opportunity,” Jones said. “USA Basketball has once again assembled the best of the best from around the country. More than half of this team has international experience, and the others bring an intensity and fire to our team. We want to represent USA Basketball and our country as well as we possibly can. This is a blessing, and we all want to take advantage of it.
“We also know that our opponents will be the best coaches and players from around the world,” Jones continued. “We must meet the challenge of a team that will be well prepared and one that is full of talented and experienced players. Recent history adds to the game’s interest and ensures that the USA will be focused and will play with heart and effort to make USA Basketball and America proud.
The 2013-16 USA Basketball Men’s Developmental National Team Committee selected the 2014 USA Junior National Select Team roster. Chaired by Sean Ford, the USA Basketball Men’s National Team Director, the committee also includes AAU appointees Rich Gray and Boo Williams; National Federation of High Schools representatives Herman Harried and John Olive; and athlete representatives Chauncey Billups (2010 FIBA World Championship gold medalist and a member of three USA Basketball Teams) and Gerry McNamara (2005 World University Games Team).
The 2014 World Select Team, which is expected to be announced in March, will consist of 10 to 11 players age 19 years old or younger from FIBA’s five geographic zones: FIBA Africa, FIBA Americas, FIBA Asia, FIBA Europe and FIBA Oceania, with the approved sanctioning of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the world governing body of international basketball.
Tickets are available through the Rose Quarter Ticket Office, by calling 877-789-ROSE (7673) or by visiting www.rosequarter.com.
